New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-25
ACTORS STORIES
EPISODES GRAVE AND GAY.

if 10 were possible to got from the theatre eoors
OK THIS oty vote for the most popular actor. thoro IS
htto doubt but that II would be cast for John Gil
BERT reporter in search Of anecdotes for this col
umn was fortunate enough 20 meet tho veteran actor
the other day He could not at the moment recall any
thing very amusing in his own experience, but he
told tho following story at may be chestnut :"
said Mr. Gilbert, :" but hope It isn't mouldy one,
and even II IT has been heard once, repetition ought
not to be distressing. candidate for the stage ap
Piled In the year 1901 to tho manager Of the Drury
Lane Theatre for an engagement. After he had ex
hbited specimens of HIS talents the following dalos
took place between the manager and him sir, you
stutter.' so did Mrs. Inchbald' you are lame Of
a leg so was Footc' you are knock knecd'
so is Wroughton.' You have an ugly faco.' so
had Weston 'You are very short so was Gar
rick You squink abomlnably' so does Lewis
You are mere monotonary manncrst.' $50 Is KEN
ble' You arc a miserable copy Of Kemble.' so
Is barrymore You have perpetual whine $50
has Pope In comedy you are quite buifoon $50
Is Jack Bannstcr You sing as Ill as you act so
does Kelly But you have all these defects com
bined so much the moro singular W. con
cluded Mr. Gilbert of had been that manager l
should certainly havo engaged that actor"
"In my early time upon the STAGE writes Mrs
Thomas Whlfen, 81 was engaged with certain
opera company We playing at certain
theatre In a certain city, not hundred miles from
tho Irish Sea- 1t was Christmas tmo and the panto-
mimo was still running though somewhat waning
In IFS attraction opera was played before It.
What opera II was the particular night to which
refer forget: but remember that during tho last
act / was sitting In the grccn-r"om, waiting for my
call and saw the principal characters OF the hare
qulnade como I'm. As usual they began getting
into tim fr their wO~k by doing bcf.ro tho glass
s'mc OF the plnt"nlmic business which they were
socn to act On tho stage especially the harlequin.
whom knew well. lie nice kindly fellow,
always cheerful and ulcasant. partlcularly q the
younger members Of tho company; always making
them laugh by some drnil thing he did or said. Well
there he was, before the large glass posturing and
atttudinizing, much to our amusement We soon
noticed that his face working too and grmace
followed grmHcc until We laughed Ourscvc, tired and
told him he was taking away the clowns business.
the tears streaming down his face; sim be went
on with his twisting aud twirllne l went to him and
the contorons Of his body faster than ever and The
tears fell faster SIN lie pulled the black mask Of
his exercising, and IN trembling voice, broken by
"Of all the cxrcrionc.s I ever had" remarked IN
nic Russell. now "Thc lily Maid Of Astolat.7 Oh"
most singular when I was child playing ia q
Juvenile 'Plnaforc company. We were 10 give per
Torrance on Christmas day in Auburn IrutcufdsY
before the convcts. shall never forget tl' fe"ins
that came as J passed through tlo.e frnHning
gates. We dressed behind screams on an improvlsed
stage, and while We were so occupied Vc heard the
wardcns speaking 20 ana arranging 40" prisoners.
had never before heard human beings SPOKEN 20 eo
roughly when came out urou thc stage. aui saw
that Of fires. many Of iic rrpusvc TYP. AID
know that rcary every rrm' Dad ts representative
there. could scarcely go on. AZ first tie.. laughter
Was terrifying ~ was $50 coarse 80 seemed L--'al
rather than human nrt lt'le hy lttlc thc charm 81
cncd tl,n1 7iey o',ctcd d.,ru fli ann t-.l. IT,
hayior one could scarcely have told thom from aa
ordinary audience. And az la.f saw many r-tr.s
"a.